Doctor Who_ Hope - Mark Clapham [76]
And so does its champion, added Fitz. He looked out across the glittering sea. Happy endings all round.
Almost, said the Doctor. Theres just one piece missing, and I think its about to arrive.
Fitz looked across at Anji, who was as puzzled as he was. Then there was a commotion out to sea, and Fitz saw something large and grey emerge from the deep, displacing huge ripples of water in its wake. As the water crashed back down around it, Fitz could see a familiar blue shape tied to the submarines deck.
Now were ready for that happy ending, said the Doctor, beaming at his beloved ship.
There will be no reopening, said Silver.
What? said Miraso, head flicking up from the accounts she had been reading through before Silver interrupted. She had come to his office to go through plans to get the Silver Palace up and running again, after the recent closure and disruption. It had never occurred to Miraso that this might not be on the cards.
Silver drummed heavy fingers on the desk. Miraso hadnt even realised he was back in the Palace, never mind about to pay her a visit. His sudden appearance put her off balance.
There will be no reopening, he repeated impatiently. The business side of my concerns are of no interest to me now. At last, opportunities for an expansion of my interests are emerging, and before then we need to break out of the holding pattern commercial dominance provided, and consolidate all assets. From there we will have a solid foundation from which to expand.
Expand? echoed Miraso. She had no idea what Silver was talking about, and was under the distinct impression that he was talking to himself rather than to her. All she could make out was that most of what she had ever worked on was becoming irrelevant in the face of Silvers new ambitions, whatever they may be. Where did Miraso herself fit into these great plans?
Silvers eyes swivelled towards her, having drifted to stare out of the window. He looked about to speak, when there was a knock on the door. Silver called out for the person to enter.
Anji stuck her head around the door.
I just thought we might have a little chat, said the human, with an informality Miraso would never have dared to have with Silver.
In spite of his increasing ambitions, Silver reacted positively to this impertinence. Please, come through, he said, gesturing for Anji to sit in the chair opposite him. The chair Miraso was currently occupying. Miraso and I can resume our conversation at a later time.
Miraso nodded to them both, rising from her chair, and tried to make as dignified a withdrawal as possible. As the door closed behind her, she could hear Anjis first words to Silver, something about an offer he had made. This set Mirasos mind racing. What kind of offer? What position would Anji hold in Silvers organisation? Where did Miraso fit into his brave new world?
Miraso desperately wanted to hear more, but knew full well that Silver would see if she hesitated in the corridor to listen in. So she forced herself to walk away, her frustration at the uncontrollable changes around her growing with every step.
To his own great surprise, Fitz found himself unable to relax, something which had never troubled him in the past. He prided himself on his ability to loaf around, doing very little for days at a time, yet now it was a beautiful, sunny day, and he found himself unable just to lie back and enjoy it. There was an urge to do something worthwhile with his time itching the inside of Fitzs skull, and no matter how hard he tried to suppress it that urge just wouldnt go. The whole situation was frankly embarrassing Fitz Kreiner, driven man just didnt fit with the laidback selfimage he tried to project but he seemed to be left with little choice in the matter. So he purchased some